A drink driving Truro doctor who crashed into a bollard has been banned from the road, despite the court hearing he has saved the lives of patients by getting to them faster in his car than an ambulance or paramedics could.

Mark James Stephen 45, of Treffry Road, Truro, was caught as a drink driver after drinking vodka the previous evening while at home. He was banned from the road for 18 months.

His solicitor, Robin Smith, said the worst part of his disqualification was the effect it would have on the 16,000-strong practice at Padstow where he was a partner.

“A feature of the practice, which covers a very large rural area, is that the doctors travel around with a large amount of kit, including resuscitation, and over the 14 years he has been there he has saved lives, arriving in his car before an ambulance or paramedics.”

Dr Stephen, who pleaded guilty to driving in Truro on January 4 with 75 mcg, more than twice the legal limit, in his breath, was caught after crashing his car into a bollard in Bodmin Road.

He was unsteady on his feet and officers considered him to be drunk.

He told the police that while driving, his wallet had slipped in the car, and when he looked up after grabbing it he hit the bollard.

He had no previous convictions.

The doctor was fined £1,000 with £185 costs and surcharge.